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MTC Mamba 4-16X50 SCB

History.

I recently decided to change my scope, I had been using an MTC Viper 10X44 for a year and had found I rarely used the target turrets for anything but initial zeroing and never used the sidewheel facility. Having loved that scope and particularly the SCB reticle, I decide to look at the rest of the MTC range and settled with the Mamba. This was because it had low profile turrets, still had IR (Illuminated Reticle) and was still parallax adjustable.

First Impressions.

Very good, well made with a satin finish as I expected, came with a sunshade, metal flip up covers, spare battery for the IR and a decent set of double screw two piece high mounts.

Close Inspection.

OK, this is as close to picking faults as I get, the finish is a little bit agricultural. There are a couple of tiny spots where the finish is not perfect, notably on the IR unit but, from experience, this is not an indication of poor materials. My Viper was the same and the finish never deteriorated in all the time I used it, and that included some extremely atrocious weather conditions. It survived the Gathering in 2007 as well as regular terrible weather at national HFT events, being on and off my gun on a regular basis and it never once marked more than the day I took it out of the box.
I have no doubt that the finish will stand up to my use and abuse, and therefore I will forget about it.

The glass is very clear, I looked through it at a white wall and it was still white, inferior scope glass tends to make the white look yellowish. There wasn't a trace of fuzz or blue tinge around the edges of the sight picture which goes to show that the fully multi-coated ETE (Edge To Edge) lenses work, I checked from 4X all the way to 16X and I couldn't see any faults with the glass and the way I saw through it at all.

The only other thing I found was the sunshade did not quite screw in flush to the objective bell, on very close inspection, this is because the adapter ring has not had the threads undercut. Again, not a something that affects the way the scope works or how well the sunshade does its intended task.

Features.

Well, quite a shopping list actually,
it has a 30mm, one piece construction tube,
sunshade,
metal flip up covers which seal with a rubber ring that does not fall out or come off,
two piece, double screw high mounts included,
side focus turret,
extremely low profile turrets,
fine focus eye bell,
and a removable IR unit, illuminates the SCB reticle red.

The L+R turret cap also doubles as a spare battery holder for the IR, now that is a clever idea. Now then, about the removable IR, it needs a bloody good tug upwards to get it to come off so will not work loose over time unless you take it off on a regular basis. The idea behind it is that the rheostat is the most expensive and the most common fault on a scope, therefore, if the rheostat can be replace easily, you never need to be without a scope and the new part can be sent out without having to have the scope repaired by a specialist.

Turrets, side focus and magnification rings.

I like them, the adjusters are under nicely made, well fitting covers which have a rubber ring under them to seal out the elements and dirt, they turn easily with positive clicks and don't appear to have any slack in them.
The side focus turns smoothly and easily with just a little pressure so I think it should stay where I put it when I have the rifle slung over my shoulder and the turrets rub the back of my jacket.
The magnification ring is the stiffest of all, a bit more effort is needed to turn up or down through the range but again, I think this is a good thing for me because the last thing I need is for the mag and subsequently the aim points, to change without me realising whilst I am out hunting.

Possible Applications For Use.

Well, with 50mm of objective and a minimum 4X, it is very good for lamping, something my fixed Viper wasn't. I zero with 16X and then dial down to 10X for my normal target or hunting work, 4X or 6X for close rats or squirrels. I found that at 4X I could see clearly from about 8-55 yards, at 8X from 10-40 and at 10X from 12-40 all with a 30 yard parallax.

For targets, it is adequate for general targets or very good for HFT, the light gathering quality of the lenses enabled me to see into the murky shadows easily at my club. For FT, it is obviously limited if you are after high mag but I would happily use it myself, I usually use 8-10X anyway.

I think this scope is designed for the hunter more than the target shooter, the limited magnification will always be a limiting factor for how well you can use the sidewheel to rangefind, personally, I use a digital rangefinder when out after quarry anyway. Having said that, I do feel this is an excellent choice for those of us who shoot HFT, and I will be using it for this years UKAHFT rounds as well as for all my hunting.

Value For Money?

Absolutely! This scope retails for under £200 and I have looked through scopes costing at least double that did not have the quality of the glass this one has, I can honestly say that in my opinion, you would have to spend an awful lot more to get better than these.

Update to my review.

OK, I have been using the Mamba for over a month now, it has been used in conditions from snow to baking heat (Only a week apart but that's the British weather for you) and it has proven to be every bit as good as I expected.
It has not misted or fogged, the clarity is second to none, looking into shaded areas for dark objects, I can easily pick out every detail.
I have been playing with the mag/parralax settings for use in HFT and I have found that using 8X and 25yds I can see the killzone on a 10yd target relatively easily but, I have no trouble seeing from 12-45yds at all. Just a bit fuzzy as would be expected.

I have been lamping with it and on 4-6X it is superb, no fading, fuzzing or searching for a bunny in the lamplight, the field of view is brilliant, enough to easily find the target, not too much to lose it altogether or too little so that by the time the target is found, it has run off.

I fully reccommended this scope, it is versatile, clear and incredible value for money.

Hi,I have just bought one of these today from Redbeck shooting supplies in wakefield.I have set it up and I must say it is very clear and the reticle looks very good for HFT.My IR unit does not work and the mag ring is very stiff,and the sunshade adaptor is the same as yours.I can live with it but I will see if I can get the IR unit exchanged,are you there gary?

I will be shooting with it at Codnor HFt so it will be interesting how I find the reticle.It looks a little busy but I normally only shoot with 30/30 or Twin reticle Tr japanese Tasco.
I still find milldots annoying so this SCB ret is ideal,although I have also bought a 3x12 Cobra for the daughter to try out as well.That looks amazing value for money.

Well I shot the Codnor HFT today with the Mamba on top of my GML 400 and I really liked it.Its not any clearer than my Japanese Tasco, as I kept checking the one on my daughters gun at different targets to compare.

But it did seem to have a bigger sight picture and the real bonus is the reticle.
I did drop one shot though when I didnt realise that I was using the centre cross in stead of the first full horizontal for 45 yards,silly mistake that I might have done with my old scope.
Overall I think its a keeper,I dont think you will get better glass unless it is top end european or very high quality Japanese,and then you'll be hard pushed to see a major difference,and to be honest I dont want £500 scopes on my gun really.
I think the only other scope that I would consider other than a Mamba is the Lightstream FFP and they are nearly double new price.

So Its a good scope all round and I agree with everything Armbands has said.

I think there are the same but I am not back at home until Tues. I can have a look then and let you know.

Why not contact Sammie - on here as 'Sammie' or give her a ring on Monday @ MTC.

Apart from the turrets and a related issue, the IR control -on the Viper it is on the 3rd/PA 'turret' while in the Mamba it is at the rear on top of the scope and is operated by 2 buttons rather than the more usual knob. It is also removeable on the Mamba.